captain america shield after steve rogers, played by chris evans, passed the torch to his best friend sam wilson in a previous movie. >> we're on the brink of war. >> however, what makes wilson's character especially powerful for john comes from his own family history. john's grandfather, lieutenant colonel john mosely, was a tuskegee airman who served during world war two and the korean war. just like his grandfather, wilson also served in the air force, choosing to risk his life while soaring above the clouds for his country. >> they are willing to do whatever is possible in order to protect us if we need it as a people. >> and if you think john is excited for falcon to take center stage, just wait until you meet his son solomon, who is ready to take flight and save the day. any minute now. captain america brave new world is in theaters today. >> and you have your tickets already? >> yeah, i do have my ticket. yep. i don't know if my wife wants to come, but i already bought mine. >> and for valentine's day. >> yeah, i'm seeing it on valentine's day before she comes home from work. then we're g

the idea for sam wilson sam wilson is already already a connected, created character.ange. that's the only difference. >> but mackie's captain america can do something. the last one couldn't fly, he says. director julius onah had plans to take advantage of that skill in this movie. >> julius had a very good, clear idea of what he wanted to do with these wings and with this suit, and expand the reality of sam wilson. he wanted to make him more of an aerial like combat specialist. >> the combat is also at ground level. >> need a minute? thought. >> fighting aside, mackie loved working with harrison ford, who plays the new president in the film. >> literally, we would get together before every scene, go through the lines, you know, figure out what we're trying to convey, figure out the beats that worked at the most, and we worked on it like it was a like it was a play, like we were actors in a play group, you know, working on a script. so it was amazing. >> i want you, captain america, to help me rebuild the avengers. >> the avengers? >> yes, sir. >> i love what i do. i a

and that's part of our culture to see sam wilson now pick up the mantle and captain america brave newpes. sam has wings, but he still serves for love of country, love of community. and he also joined by another veteran, danny ramirez. you know, taking up the mantle of falcon. to have captain americas back like any veteran would do anytime, anywhere. >> the film represents veterans and how complicated the full narrative is around service. there's many facets of it, and sam wilson's character speaks a lot to this because he is a beautiful way into servicemen's lives and veterans lives. >> to know that captain america has this military background and is a veteran, it's so realistic. we don't see that often, but we need to see it because we've got new generations out there. it's about time. >> for captain america. brave new world is in theaters now. disney is the parent company of marvel and abc seven news. abc seven news is streaming 24 seven. get the abc seven bay area streaming tv app. and join us whenever you want, wherever you are. that's it for abc seven news at four.m kristen z. ab

sam. i really wanted to exhibit and show. >> it was at the end of 2019 avengers end game that former captain america steve rogers passed cap's shield to wilsonu feel? >> and i think steve noticed that in him and recognized himself in sam, and that's why he gave him the shield. >> mackie and i are sitting down at nellis air force base in southern nevada. fitting, since sam wilson was in the air force. >> that's pretty dope. that's pretty dope. >> mackie boarded the c-130 behind us for a roughly 13,000 foot tandem jump with the pararescue men of the 58th rescue squadron. >> i had a great time. >> he says that connection to the service is at the core of this character. >> that's why he's captain america, because he's the best shining example of what's in us. >> with some wakanda level up. >> yeah, yeah, yeah. i'm extra. >> my suit has got revamped. the wakandans, you know, which is in the comic book. the wakandans took my suit and gave me some some perks of the trade. >> this time, captain america is facing a new threat. >> nothing about this feels right. >> captain america. you ever ask yourself who's playing who? >> and a hollywood legend is

so sam wilson, who i play in captain america, in the comic book he's a member of the 58th airborne.ed of combat soldiers. the 58th are the ones that go out to get people in. they do search and rescue. so if you get stuck or you get hurt behind enemy lines, the 58th come in and get you out. >> jimmy: i see. >> so for sam wilson to be a member of the 58th, it was a monumental experience for me to go and meet these guys, spend time with these guys, go to their barracks, go to their mess hall, do all this stuff. and then have them throw me out of a plane. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: do you -- did you -- when you started as the falcon, did you know that eventually you would take the mantle of captain america? >> no, that was never -- because we had a perfectly good, healthy captain america. [ laughter ] you know. you don't get fired on your day off by chris evans, you know. >> jimmy: do you think the marvel people knew you would be captain america? >> i think with the comic books, it was outlined. i think this is something that's been in the works for a long time. >> jimmy: uh-huh? >> and it

anthony mackie's sam wilson is taking over the title of captain america. the hero, of course, previously played by chris evans. this also marks the first time harrison ford has starred in a marvel movie. those marvel movies are always so popular. all right, thanks f male announcer: this is an "nbc bay area news special." we investigate. flames raced through la county communities like a freight train, killing at least 29 people and destroying nearly 7,000 homes. male: so it looks like he's starting to get more pressure now. announcer: fire crews were outmatched. marty adams: no one's ever designed a system to account for the entire community kitchen fire at the same time. announcer: tonight we investigate what went wrong. kevin mcgowan: we have every technical specialist working to resolve this issue and to find the root cause. announcer: what went right? joe grupalo: nothing like this existed, you know, 3 or 4 years ago. announcer: and the lessons learned to help prevent another disaster of this scale. paul grisanti: come in very handy for any place that's

anthony mackie's sam wilson is taking over the title of captain america.usly played by chris evans. this also marks the first time harrison ford has starred in a marvel movie. those marvel movies are always so popular. all right, thanks f male announcer: this is an "nbc bay area news special." we investigate. flames raced through la county communities like a freight train, killing at least 29 people and destroying nearly 7,000 homes. male: so it looks like he's starting to get more pressure now. announcer: fire crews were outmatched. marty adams: no one's ever designed a system to account for the entire community kitchen fire at the same time.

. >> but it is sam wilson that fans hope will take captain america to new heights. >> i went to the aire captain america has always inspired me in and out of uniform. there's been such a long emotional journey as a fan, as a black person, as a veteran to see this character and this actor go through all of this. it's going to be anxious, but it is also just so good to see hard work and excellent pay off in somebody that looks like you, that looks like a member of your community. >> captain america soars into theaters on valentine's day. you should at the very least watch the last five minutes of avengers "end game." it is officially popcorn season, people. >> janai: that's good information to head to the theater. >> yes. >> that's why anthony macke is doing it, not me. >> whit: that's not what people want to hear. will gains, thank you so much. it flies into theaters on february 14th. next week, the entire cost, including harrison ford and anthony macke will be here on gma talking about it. >> i will leave my shield at home for that. >> whit: please do. >> janai: now let's get another ch

>> chris: enter sam wilson as the falcon. enter his 1969 comics debut.guys? >> if they're shooting at you, they're bad. >> chris: played by anthony mackie. wilson showing up for cap when the world and his buddy needed him most. >> on your left. >> chris: so in 2019 avengers end game it was steve rogers handing over his shield. >> how do you feel? >> like it's someone else's. >> it isn't. >> chris: sam wilson grappling with becoming cap all through the winter soldier series. >> the legacy of that shield is complicated, to say the least. >> chris: until he took on the title and made it his own. >> who are you, captain america? >> chris: and now -- >> you're not steve rogers. >> right. i'm not. >> chris: a new captain america facing off against bigger, badder and greater threats than ever before. >> you want me? come and get me! >> chris: for "good morning america" chris connelly, abc news, los angeles. >> george: thanks to chris for that. captain america brave new world is in theaters this friday. coming up next, lori bergamotto here with wearable tech for

on friday, anthony mackie takes us his role as sam wilson from streaming to the big screen in captainord is joining him. alicia vitarelli had a chance to sit down with hollywood legend about this moment in his 65 year plus career. >> i was a wartime general. now i'm a wartime president. >> this is your debut in the marvel cinematic universe. and how cool is that? what a sandbox to play in. >> yeah, exactly. >> that's that's that's the way i saw it. i don't want a variable out there that i can't control. there's a sandbox that i haven't been playing in, and i look over there and these guys are having fun. hey, come on, i want some. >> and boy, did he get it. harrison ford takes over for the late william hurt as the now president, thaddeus thunderbolt ross. and then in true mcu magnificence, he transforms. into the red hulk. >> since when were they red? >> what did it feel like for you to then watch this back and see this red hulk transformation? that's wild. >> that's wild. but that's the end of the movie. >> ford has given us some of the most iconic roles. i love you from han solo. >>

. >> saying that sam wilson was always the true representative of what american black culture lookedow what role anthony still gets recognized for? papa doc in eight mile. you know what my tag name was? >> what? >> papa doc. >> one of my all-time favorite cinematic characters. by the way, nischelle will be with anthony tonight at his hollywood premiere. we will have that for you tomorrow. it was keep exclusive going to celebrate 50 years of "saturday night live," former cast numbers are going to drop by all week long starting with kevin. kevin nealon. >> "snl," 50 years old. >> isn't that amazing? that's interesting because i look at some of the cast members that are on there now and i think i left that show 20 years before they were even born and i remember one of -- before i went on my first sketch called mr. subliminal. went to commercial, lorne michaels puts his hand on my shoulder and goes "are you sure this is what you want?" >> do you have a favorite character you played? >> hans and franz. >> speaking of, this was our first interview with you. >> only babies could lifted. >>

broccoli and wilson announced back in 2022 they were searching for a new bond for the 26th film, but no updates have been shared as of yet. >> samou choose? then i'll tell you what we found' out. >> will: i do like george. [ laughter ] i do like it. >> george: you do? >> sam: daniel craig kind of smart version. >> george: if you can negotiate me that contract -- [ laughter ] >> sam: it was henry cavill. people are going with him. i have to say, i thought so, too. i think that was my first kind of instinct. there you go. >> will: can do it all. even his own stunt, just like george. [ laughter ] >> michael: i'm gonna put it in motion for you. [ laughter ] all right. coming up, we're gonna take a look at this healthy little baby boy. he has an unbelievable story. the first open heart surgery performed on a baby while he was being delivered. can't wait to tell you more about that. next, lara's live in nashville with the one and only hamish. hey, lara. >> lara: hi, michael. this guy loves a chin scratch. it is very cold out, but not for hamish, with his gorgeous coat. he is ready for his closeup. he's about to be our "play of the day